Safe toy balloon closure and sealing device and assemblies using same

ABSTRACT

A safe toy balloon closure and sealing device is provided that includes (a) a generally flat member having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, a first side edge and a second side edge opposite the first side edge, (b) a balloon neck receiving aperture formed through the generally flat member and between the first end and the second end, (c) an inserting passage for inserting a balloon neck from the first end into the balloon neck receiving aperture, and (d) at least one non-aligned stretched neck retaining device formed on at least one of the second end, the first side edge and the second side edge at a location that is not aligned with the inserting passage, for creating at least one angled sharp bend and seal in a balloon neck being stretched from the balloon neck receiving aperture for reinsertion through the inserting passage and the balloon neck receiving aperture; thereby effectively closing and sealing the stretched balloon neck without tying and without a risk of the balloon neck unraveling and causing premature balloon deflation. In order to make the closure and sealing device of the present invention safe, it includes a safety device in form of a tail portion or a repulsive taste agent.

[0001] This Application is based on a Provisional Patent Application No.60/431,136 filed Dec. 5, 2002.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This application is related to U.S. Provisional ApplicationSerial No. ______ (Applicant's Docket MSD02), entitled “SAFER TOYBALLOONS AND METHODS FOR IMPARTING UNPALATABLE TASTE TO SAME” having acommon inventor and filed herewith on the same day.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0003] This invention relates to closure devices, and more particularlyto a safe toy balloon closure and sealing device for closing and sealingan inflated elastometric toy balloon having an elastic balloon neck,without a need of tying the balloon neck, and reduce a risk of ingestioninjury from balloons.

[0004] The invention also relates methods for adapting and utilizing bagclosure devices, commonly used with inelastic bags, to effectively closeand seal a toy balloons, and improvements thereto.

[0005] Embodiments of the device additionally include such a device madeto meet the standard safety test for small parts, one made safe byimparting a revolting taste thereto, one in an assembly including anattaching tether, another by interconnecting multiple devices, anotherconnected to a supporting line, and another adapted for use as a punchball game.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0006] It is well known that toy balloons have been the leading cause ofdeath from toys in the hands of young children. For example, accordingto the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission data, in a ten-yearperiod ending October 2002, there were 81 deaths and an additional 118toy balloon injury incidents that required medical treatment. The datadoes not reflect the number of deaths and injuries, which involved toyballoon closure and sealing devices.

[0007] It is common knowledge however that young children, especiallythose three years of age and under, are ordinarily inclined to placesmall objects they find into their mouth. If the objects are small,sharp or breakable there is the possibility for injury or even death,principally by choking. Toy balloon closure and sealing devices usuallyare made from structured members that are small, sharp and breakable,and hence they pose a risk for injury or even death, principally bychoking. In order to make such small objects, particularly toy objectssafe, there is, for example, a standardized choke test that such partsto be safe must meet or pass. One test apparatus for this choke testconsists of a vertical tube 1{fraction (1/4)} inch in diameter and 2¼deep with a partition extending upward at a 45-degree angle from abottom corner of the tube. A small part, placed within the tube, is safeand suitable for use by children of all ages if any portion of the partprojects above the top of the tube.

BACKGROUND AND PRIOR ART

[0008] Generally, closure and sealing devices are well known and includebag closure devices for closing and sealing uninflated flexible filmbags such as those used for containing bread and other produce items, aswell as conventional toy balloon closure devices for closing and sealinginflated toy balloons.

[0009] One example of prior art is for A Balloon neck closure anddecoration device, U.S. Pat. No. 5,799,377 (Carroll et al.) whichdescribe a generally flat circular closure disk with two or threeinwardly extending slots for holding the neck of the balloon. Thepreferred device described in this disclosure has but one balloon neckpassage means or slot so as to avoid confusing the user, and as will bedescribed later, balloon neck passage begins and ends in the same singlepassage means making a complete revolution to do so (best seen in FIG.12). In the Carroll patent, FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 show the balloon neckthreaded through each of the three slots in turn and exiting from adifferent slot than the entry point. This action has been found to beawkward since fingers holding the device will always be covering atleast one of the yet-to-be-threaded slots and requires added dexterity.The applicant's device may be easily grasped without blocking the neckwrapping path as will be shown.

[0010] Examples of bag closure devices for closing and sealinguninflated flexible film bags are disclosed for example in U.S. Pat.Nos. 4,361,935 (Paxton), 4,509,231 (Paxton), U.S. Pat. No. 4,333,566(Holmes), in which each variably includes a relatively large holdingaperture for containing and retaining an inserted neck of such aflexible film bag. Such devices are manufactured by Kwik Loc®Corporation Yakima, Wash., in a wide variety of styles for closing netbags as well as uninflated film bags. All of the Kwick Loc® closureproducts appear devoted to holding bags closed and make no attempt toseal the bags against fluid escapement, for example helium used ininflating toy balloons. In fact, tightly sealing such bags would be adistinct disadvantage for the intended purpose of containing bread,vegetables and the like, creating unnecessary bulk due to airentrapment. Such bag closure devices, when used for uninflated plasticfilm bags with one pass through a neck retaining aperture do effectivelygather and secure bag closure as intended but are unsuited foreffectively closing and sealing the elastic necks of toy balloons thatare inflated with an easily escapable fluid such as helium, air or thelike. The result is fluid escaping between folds in the gathered balloonneck walls causing rapid premature deflation of the inflated toyballoon.

[0011] Examples of conventional toy balloon closure and sealing devicesfor closing and sealing toy balloons include molded and relatively heavyplastic devices with containment holes and/or slots for inserting andcontaining a twisted elastic neck of a toy balloon. For example, onesuch device is a molded plastic disk marketed under the trade nameSAFETITE® DISK by Premium Balloon Accessories, Inc. of Sharon Center,Ohio, and shown in U.S. Pat. No. D359,229 (Jules) and having twocontainment holes and two insertion slots, are available commercially asshown in FIGS. 7 and 8.

[0012] One of the two slots is longer than the other slot and the twoholes are not symmetric relative to the circular periphery of the disk.User's instructions describe the slots in terms of longer and shorter,and therefore require the user to decide which of the slots is longerand would allow the neck of the balloon to sit at the center of thedisk. The Patent drawings show a total of four slots which would likelyhave contributed to additional user confusion had they been included.Even when this conventional device is used properly according to suchinstructions, there is still quite a high risk of the elastic twistedneck of the toy balloon unraveling and resulting in premature deflationof the inflated toy balloon. Further explanation is provided with thedetailed description of prior art FIGS. 7 and 8.

[0013] Another product distributed by Premium Balloon Accessories is asmall diameter flat disk having a single central hole. To use it, acroquet-hook like rod is needed to stretch and pull a twisted loop ofballoon neck through the hole. The neck is thereby doubled back uponitself. The hook is removed releasing much of the tension. This causesthe neck to expand and effectively prevents the loop from passingbackwards though the hole. Unfortunately, the release of tension allowsfor slight gaps in the folds in the balloon neck creating the risk offluid leakage. Although widely used in the past, balloons sealed withthese disks have found disfavor because of slow leakage, especially whenfilled with helium gas. Also, these disks do not pass the standardsafety test for small children as previously cited and are themselves aningestion hazard.

[0014] Besides the high risk of the elastic twisted neck of the toyballoon fluid leakage under lessened tension resulting in prematuredeflation of the inflated toy balloon owing to the relatively largeslots, these prior art devices are relatively heavy and costlyparticularly because they are molded.

[0015] Another conventional toy balloon closure device is a plasticmolded cup-shaped device, as for example U.S. Pat. No. D329,261 thatalso uses slots for both inserting and retaining the neck of an inflatedtoy balloon. The molded cup is heavy, cumbersome to use and does notimpart a 180-degree bend around a relatively sharp well defined edge.

[0016] Yet another existing closure device is the applicant's BalloonValve Assembly disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,496,203, (Murray). Althoughthe Murray valve passes the safety test for all ages and is half theweight of other balloon valves, and it too is molded and is about threetimes heavier and three times more costly to produce when compared withmany of the various embodiments of the closure and sealing device of thepresent invention as described below in this application.

[0017] There is therefore a need for a safe, relatively inexpensive,lightweight and easy to make toy balloon closure and sealing device thatadditionally has easy to understand and/or intuitive instructions, andthat does not use large slots which are susceptible to allowinguntensioning of the elastic twisted necks of the inflated toy balloons,and/or allowing the premature deflation of the inflated toy balloon.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0018] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a toy balloon closure and sealing device including (a) agenerally substantially flat member having a convoluted perimeterincluding a first end, a second end opposite the first end, a first sideedge and a second side edge opposite the first side edge, (b) a balloonneck receiving aperture formed through the generally substantially flatmember and between the first end and the second end, said balloon neckreceiving aperture being located generally central to the convolutedperimeter, (c) passage means for inserting a balloon neck from the firstend into the balloon neck receiving aperture, and (d) at least onestretched balloon neck retaining means formed on at least one of thesecond end, the first side edge and the second side edge, for creatingat least one sharp bend and seal in the stretched balloon neck from theballoon neck receiving aperture for reinsertion through the passagemeans and the balloon neck receiving aperture; thereby effectivelyclosing and sealing the balloon.

[0019] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, anytoy balloon closure and sealing device including a structured memberhaving balloon neck insertion and retaining devices, also has a safetydevice for making it safe for children to use without a significant riskof injury. In one embodiment, the safety device is a tail-portionextending from a point on a perimeter of the structured member formaking the structured member have a size that satisfies the standardsafety test for small parts. In another embodiment, the safety deviceincluded a repulsive taste agent applied to the structured member formaking it significantly and instantly unpalatable to human taste.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] In the detailed description of the invention presented below,reference is made to the drawings, in which:

[0021]FIG. 1 is an illustration of an inflated latex toy balloon showinga stretched twisted balloon neck for closure and sealing with theclosure and sealing device of the present invention;

[0022]FIG. 2 is an illustration of a first embodiment of the closure andsealing device of the present invention including a tail-portion toassure a device size commensurate with passage of the standard safetytest for small parts;

[0023]FIG. 3A is an illustration of a second embodiment of the closureand sealing device of the present invention without the tail portion;

[0024]FIG. 3B illustrates the use of the second embodiment of theclosure and sealing device of the present invention showing the balloonneck wrapped around a neck retaining means and repulsive taste area;

[0025]FIG. 4 illustrates a third embodiment of the sealing device of thepresent invention showing installation of a tether before wrapping theballoon neck as described in FIG. 3A;

[0026]FIG. 5 illustrates a fourth embodiment of the closure and sealingdevice of the present invention showing an associated rubber band, andthe balloon neck wrapped around another neck retaining means on an edgeof the convoluted perimeter of the device;

[0027]FIG. 6a shows a perspective view of plural balloon assemblies asin FIG. 3B, attached to a fixed tether line that includes a resilientlink;

[0028]FIG. 6b illustrates a loop formed in the tether line employed tosecure the balloon assemblies shown in FIG. 6a;

[0029]FIG. 7 is an illustration of a prior art as commercially availabletoy balloon closure disk;

[0030]FIG. 8 is an illustration of prior art device of FIG. 7 showingthe balloon neck in a suggested wrapping pattern;

[0031]FIG. 9 illustrates a fifth embodiment of the closure and sealingdevice of the present invention;

[0032]FIG. 10 is an illustration of a portion of a stamped out exemplaryfrangible strip of a number of exemplary embodiments of the closure andsealing device of the present invention;

[0033]FIG. 11A illustrates a sixth embodiment of the present inventionshowing a symmetrical version of the closure and sealing device havingtwo neck-receiving apertures:

[0034]FIG. 11B illustrates the sixth embodiment of the present inventionshowing an alternate method for removably securing the device of thepresent embodiment to a fixed tether line; and

[0035]FIG. 12 is a perspective exploded view of the sealing deviceshowing an area of repulsive taste and a preferred method of wrapping ofa toy balloon neck around the substantially flat member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0036] With reference now to FIGS. 1-12, like reference numerals referto the same or like elements. FIG. 1 is an illustration of an inflatedlatex toy balloon 30, sometimes referenced as toy balloon 30, showingballoon body 32 and a stretched twisted neck 34 that needs to be closedand sealed using a closure device, for example, the closure and sealingdevice 50 of the present invention. As shown, the neck 34 of theinflated latex toy balloon 30 can be seen as including neck portions 36,37, and 38, which are each respectively further and further away fromthe balloon body 32, and terminating in neck rim 40. The neck portionsare relevant for instructing how to close and seal the neck using aballoon closure and sealing device such as that of the presentinvention.

[0037] Some latex toy balloons of course have relatively longer necksthan others, and balloon thickness also varies with balloon size andfrom variety to variety, which facts together directly affect how easilythe neck can be stretched and twisted as shown, and importantly howstrong a tendency such a stretched and twisted neck, due to loosingtension, will have towards unraveling or towards escaping from any slotor aperture through which it is passed or inserted. It has been foundthat stretched and twisted balloon neck diameters vary from about 0.028inches for small “water balloons” to about 0.108 inches for 11 and12-inch size balloons.

[0038] Referring now to FIG. 2, it is an illustration of a firstembodiment of the closure and sealing device 50. Shown are various partsof this first embodiment of the balloon closure and sealing device 50,or simply device 50. As illustrated, the device 50 of the firstembodiment, as well as of the rest of the other embodiments illustratedbelow, is a substantially flat member 51, made for example of asemi-rigid plastic material of any color preferably clear, transparentor translucent plastic material to take on the color of the balloon andthereby appear inconspicuous. Alternately, device 50 may be made of abiodegradable material as for example treated cardboard.

[0039] As shown in FIG. 2 flat member 51 has a convoluted perimeter 53consisting of a first end 52, an opposite second end 54, a first sideedge 56, and a second and opposite side edge 58. Additionally, the flatmember 51 includes a balloon neck-receiving aperture 60 and a balloonneck passage means 63 communicating with the balloon neck-receivingaperture 60. The balloon neck-receiving aperture 60 may be any shape andsize that is conducive to positioning stretched balloon neck 34 andparticularly neck portion 38 out of alignment with neck passage means63. This is further explained in FIG. 3 description.

[0040] A shown in FIG. 2, flat member 51 optionally may include a tailportion 80, which may be attached to or extend from a point on theperimeter 53 of the sealing device 50. The tail portion 80 may be soattached by any suitable means, including solvent welding for example,or it may be made integral with one of, the second and opposite end 54(as shown), first side edge 56, or second side edge 58, and terminatingin tail end 82. As further shown, the tail portion 80 may also includeone or more tail-receiving slots 84. Furthermore, tail portion 80includes a tail-first-side edge 96 and a tail-second-side edge 88 whichmay taper toward tail end 82 for the purpose of being inserted into aforce fit association with tail-receiving slots 84 of similarlyconfigured sealing devices 50 having tail-portions 80. In accordancewith an aspect of the present invention, tail-portion 80 is sized inlength so that device 50 will pass the safety test for children of allages, and its width is sized so that it can be inserted and wedged intoother pre-drilled holes, for example; the pre-drilled holes in theperforated material commonly known as “pegboard.” This thus allows aperson to display a multitude of balloons in a user-desired pattern onpegboards.

[0041] Although the tail portion 80 has been disclosed in combinationwith particular exemplary features of the generally flat member 51, itis understood that the inclusion of tail portion 80 (FIG. 2), is equallyintended to function as a safety device with any of the embodiments ofthe closure and sealing devices of the present invention as well asother toy balloon sealing devices having a structured member 51.

[0042]FIG. 3A is an illustration of a second embodiment of the closureand sealing device of the present invention without the tail portion.FIGS. 2 and 3A further illustrate that a stretched neck retaining recess64 may be incorporated into second end 54 for the purpose of retaining astretched balloon neck 34 (not shown). Wrapping of the stretched balloonneck to close and seal the inflated balloon will be apparent fromviewing FIG. 12 and studying FIGS. 3B and 5.

[0043] As shown in FIGS. 3A-6, individual sealing devices 50, eachsuitable for its purpose, need only to be about {fraction (7/8)} inchsquare. This size does not pass the standardized choke test for childrenof all ages mentioned previously. To make each safe, an embodiment ofthis invention includes a repulsive taste agent 55 applied by anysuitable means to all or a portion of flat member 51 as indicated bydash line area 100, so as to make any attempt at ingestion and possibleinjury so repugnant to the users taste that it would not be ingested.Tail portion 80 could be added for increased safety.

[0044] With or without tail-portion 80, a second embodiment of a safetydevice would be a repulsive taste agent 55 area best seen in FIG. 12.The repulsive taste agent 55 formulation should include anobnoxious-tasting compound such as a bittering agent, for example,Denatonium Benzoate, that is applied to the closure and sealing device50 in a suitable manner so that a child, person or animal, upon placingthe device 50 into his/her or its mouth would immediately and instantlylikely spit it out because of the unpleasant taste. The repulsive tasteagent 55 can be applied by coating or impregnating the entire or just astrip of the, structured member or generally flat member, 51 directly.It can also be applied by similarly coating or impregnating an adhesivelabel with the repulsive taste agent 55, and then applying such label togenerally flat member of the closure and sealing device as suggested inFIG. 12 description. It has been observed that the neck of the balloon,and many times the entire balloon, will remain attached to the sealingdevice if the balloon ruptures thus making that portion of the balloon,that remains, unpalatable and thus safe. As just described, therepulsive taste agent could be applied to or incorporated with anyclosure and sealing device to make it less likely to be ingested andtherefore safer for the user.

[0045]FIG. 3B illustrates the use of a second embodiment of the closureand sealing device 50 of the present invention showing the stretchedballoon neck 34 wrapped around the second end 54 of the device. Theballoon neck passage means 63 as shown is comprised of lead-in entrynotch 61 and a narrow slot 62 (having a width less than 0.030 inches forimproving neck capture and preventing unraveling risks). Alternatively,balloon neck passage means 63 may include a slit 162, as shown in FIG.9. Shown at rest in FIG. 9 slit 162 has no width since no material hadbeen removed. Because the material of flat member 51 is semi-flexible,material on each side of slit 162 will flex in response to, and in anamount needed to allow passage of balloon neck 34 or stretched portionsthereof. This flexing is also true for slot 62 since many largerballoons have a neck diameter, as previously stated, larger than slot62. After passage of balloon neck 34 into the neck-receiving aperture60, slit 162 will return to having no width and thereby effectivelycapture the toy balloon neck and effect sealing the balloon after theballoon neck has made at least 180 degrees of turn as further describedbelow.

[0046] As best seen in FIG. 10, flat member 51 may also include at leastone neck retaining means 64 comprising elements 64 a, 72, 74, 76, 78, onat least one of the second and opposite end 54, the first side edge 56,and the second and opposite side edge 58, for preventing and limitinglateral travel of a wrapped portion of the balloon neck therealong. Inthe first embodiment, the neck retaining means 64 comprises a notch 64 aformed into the second and opposite end 54. The at least one stretchedneck retaining means 64 is located symmetrically relative to the balloonneck receiving aperture 60. Further, the balloon neck-receiving aperture60 may be formed closer to the first end 52 than to said second end 54for making insertion and retention of the neck easier.

[0047] It has been found that a straight opposite end 54, (shown in FIG.2 and FIG. 4 without notch 64 a), of sufficient length to prevent thestretched balloon neck from slipping or sliding around an adjacentcorner works equally well in providing the 180 degree turn in thestretched and twisted balloon neck 34 needed to reliably seal theballoon. A disadvantage of omitting at least one stretched neckretaining means is removal of a visual cueing to the user of theneck-wrapping path to be followed. Note that the devices shown in FIGS.9 and 10 provide strong visual cues of stretched neck entry points.Preferably, the twisted neck turn should occur over at least one hardedge and where there is not more than about 0.045 inches of materialthickness between twisted portions in contrast to two 90 degree turnsoccurring further apart, for example a quarter of an inch apart.

[0048] As shown in FIGS. 2-3B, flat member 51 in each of the embodimentsfurther has a first substantially flat face 66 and a secondsubstantially flat and opposite face 68. Both faces are mirror images ofeach other therefore references to a particular side or edge areinterchangeable, and as such, use of the device 50 is not facedependent, thereby allowing for ease of use instructions. In each of theembodiments, the balloon neck-receiving aperture 60 for example is largeenough to snugly contain three passes of the stretched and twisted neck34 of a large size toy balloon 30. The wall of the aperture 60 towardsthe second end 54 of the flat member 51 may include a tongue portion 70protruding into neck receiving aperture 60 itself for the purpose ofpositioning two different portions of the twisted balloon neck 34 givena two passes insertion of the balloon neck into the aperture. Thiscauses misalignment of each of the two passes within aperture 60 withthe neck passage means 63 to that the stretched neck portion 34 willremain under tension.

[0049]FIG. 3B further illustrates a near final stage of instructions forclosing and sealing an inflated balloon 32 using a second embodiment ofthe device 50 of the present invention that is similar to FIG. 2, butwithout tail portion 80. As illustrated, the inflated balloon body 32 ispositioned adjacent the second face 68 and hence behind device 50. Thestretched and twisted balloon neck 34, having been traversed or passedthrough the lead-in notch 61 and the slot 62 or slit 162 of the neckpassage means 63, is received and held within the neck-receivingaperture 60.

[0050] As best seen in FIG. 3B, in a two pass insertion of the neck 34,the tongue 70 acts to contain and guide twisted neck portion 36,(nearest to balloon body 32), to either side of tongue 70, so thatballoon neck portion 38, (near balloon rim 40), will position itself offof the centerline of neck passage means 63 and thereby reduce the riskof the neck portion 38 escaping from the receiving aperture 60, via neckpassage means 63, as well as reduce the risk of such neck loosingtension or unraveling (untwisting), and hence resulting in prematuredeflation of the balloon body 32.

[0051]FIG. 4 illustrates a third embodiment of the sealing device of thepresent invention showing installation of a tether 156, without the needfor tying, prior to installing the balloon neck (not shown), asdescribed in FIG. 3B. The tether assembly keeps the balloon fromfloating away when filled with helium for example. FIG. 4 alsoIllustrates a preferred method for assembling a ribbon tether 156consisting of free end 152, and supply end 154 where ribbon 156 iswrapped at least once around neck retaining means 64 a and at leasttwice through aperture 60 as shown in FIG. 4. The tether 156 is thenimpinged and captured by the balloon neck installation as described forFIG. 3B. The user is able to select ribbon color and use any desiredtether length. The tether may be a ribbon or a string.

[0052]FIG. 5 illustrates a fourth embodiment of the closure and sealingdevice 50 of the present invention showing a stretched balloon neck 34wrapped around a side edge 56 of device 50. Shown also is a method ofassociating a rubber band 158 with the sealing device 50 and inflatedtoy balloon 30 for the purpose of turning the inflated balloon into apunch ball, and; in a similar manner, alternate means of attaching atether to keep a helium inflated balloon 30 from floating away will bedescribed.

[0053]FIG. 5 shows a near final stage of instructions for closing andsealing an inflated balloon 32 using a fourth embodiment of the device50 of the present invention. As illustrated, the inflated balloon body32 is positioned adjacent the second face 68 and hence behind device 50.The stretched and twisted balloon neck 34, having been traversed orpassed through the V-shaped lead-in notch 61 and neck passage means 63,into the neck-receiving aperture 60. As shown in FIG. 5, the stretchedneck portion 34 is wrapped around second side edge 56 neck retainingmeans 72 and again through neck passage means 63 and into theneck-receiving aperture 60 for the second time. Note, a user might havechosen either one of two neck retaining means 72, or 74 of theconvoluted periphery or perimeter 53 shown in FIG. 5. Note also thattension on balloon neck portion 38, (near balloon rim 40), will bedirected ninety degrees off of the centerline of neck passage means 63and thereby reduce the risk of the neck portion 38 escaping from thereceiving aperture 60, via neck passage means 63, as well as reduce therisk of such neck loosing tension or unraveling (untwisting), and henceresulting in premature deflation of the balloon body 32.

[0054] To assemble a punch ball, a loop 159 is formed in rubber band158. The loop is slid between sealing device 50 and the inflated balloon30, pinched together as shown by arrows 210 and 212 and pulled indirection of arrow 215 to snug loop 159 around balloon neck portion 36(not seen) and then drawn upwards into and through neck passage means63, into neck retaining aperture 60 which completes the installation. Ithas been found that a string or ribbon may be substituted for rubberband 158 to cause balloon neck portion 36 (not shown) to stretch andreturn the inflated toy balloon 30 back toward the user in a manner verysimilar to using rubber band 158 after the user strikes the balloon witha punching action.

[0055]FIG. 5 also serves to illustrate an alternate method, similar toinstalling the rubber band, for releasably attaching a tether toinflated balloon 30 after it has been closed and sealed by sealingdevice 50 without the need to tie a knot, for the purpose of exercisingcontrol over the inflated balloon 30, especially if filled with heliumgas. It has been found that a single tether loop installed in a mannerrepresented by rubber band 159 works marginally well, however, wrappingthe tether twice around the balloon neck before passing into aperture 60provides additional security to prevent the tether's release. Note thatneck rim 40, is shown moved away from the normal at-rest position inorder to more clearly show the mechanics of the assembly in FIG. 5.

[0056]FIG. 6a shows a perspective view of plural balloon assemblies ofthe present invention removably secured to a tether line 300 andattached at ends 302 and 304. A substantially non resilient tether line300 includes resilient means 350 for providing slack so that a loop 310(best seen in FIG. 6b) can be formed in tether line 300 by applyingtension in the direction of arrow 315 so that loop 310 encircles balloonneck portion 36 (not seen) between sealing device 50 and inflatedballoon 30. Releasing tension in the line 300 tightens loop 310 andthereby secures the balloon device 50 to the tether line 300. As analternative to providing the resilient tether line, daisy chaining aplurality of rubber bands will also cause balloon assemblies 30 toproportionally space themselves in response to the degree of stretchingof the tether line.

[0057]FIG. 7 illustrates a commercially obtained prior art balloonsealing disk 450 such as the disk distributed by Premium BalloonAccessories, Inc., under the trade name of SAFETITE® Disk, based uponU.S. Pat. No. D359,229, is Illustrated by FIG. 7 and its use isillustrated in FIG. 8. As shown, it comprises a molded andrelatively-rigid flat member 451, having two round neck receivingapertures 460 and 461, and two significant size slots 467 (as comparedfor example to slit 162 of the present invention) and 463 each beingabout 0.040 inches wide and not designed to encourage flexing ofmaterial adjacent to the slot (as evidenced by a reinforced peripheryaround aperture 460) to permit balloon neck passage.

[0058] Aperture 460 is said to be centrally located with respect tomember 451. Instructions printed elsewhere direct a user to first insertthe balloon neck into longer of the two slots (467 and 463) into theaperture 460, then through the shorter slot (463) into the secondaperture 461, and then through the longer slot (467) a second time andinto the aperture 460.

[0059]FIG. 8 is an illustration of prior art device of FIG. 7 showingthe balloon neck in a suggested wrapping pattern. Following suchinstructions is depicted in FIG. 8, where it was found that the balloonneck portions 37, 38 needed considerable stretching in order to permitpassage a second time through the slot 467, partially due to thedistance between second apertures 461 and the entry point for slot 467.Also It was noted, especially with larger size balloons, that the neckportion 36 completely filled the aperture 460, and therefore neckportion 37, 38, was forced to remain within neck passage slot 467 whereit ordinarily was likely to unravel and escape especially since thetension exerted on neck portions 37, 38 is in direct line with neckentry slot 467.

[0060] The excessive stretching necessary to gain entry into and throughthe slot 467 for the second time, thus resulting in a length of portion37 and all of portion 38 that was even more likely to unravel (untwist)immediately upon the release of tension from stretching. This therebyincreases the likelihood of escape via neck passage slot 467, and orslippage and a reduction of tension in the wrapped balloon neck portion36 and hence in premature deflation of the inflated balloon 30. If theuser mistakenly chooses the shorter slot (463), to start and end with,the likelihood of premature deflation is virtually assured due tounraveling given a much shortened escape route (shorter slot 463) thatis in alignment with neck passage slot 467.

[0061]FIG. 9 is an illustration of a fifth embodiment of the closure andsealing device 50 of the present invention. The fifth embodiment issimilar to the embodiment of FIG. 5, except that the ends 52, 54, andthe side edges 56, 58 are semi-circular rather than straight. In anothercomparison, the device of FIG. 9 is similar to that of FIG. 8, but itrepresents an improved structural arrangement and an improvement (asdescribed below) over prior art shown in FIG. 8.

[0062] Note the greater size and lateral width of aperture 60 of thefifth embodiment permits easier flexing of material adjacent to neckentry means 63 and therefore entry means can be narrower to a pointwhere it is merely a slit 162 having no material removed and hence noslot width at all. Balloon neck passage means 63 is designed to flex,due to wider lead in notch 61 and, to permit balloon neck entry. Notethat the device of FIG. 9 has neck-retaining means 72 and 74 arranged sothat the use of either of them, as determined by user's preference, willdirect the balloon neck tension forces in a direction approximately 90degrees to the axis of neck passage means 63.

[0063] Also shown is a reconfigured neck-retaining aperture 60 that isrelatively more conducive to retaining two or more portions of theballoon neck (e.g. portions 36 and 38, not shown). In this particularuse, considerably less stretching of the balloon neck 34 would berequired as compared to the stretching shown in FIG. 8. The structure ofthe embodiment of FIG. 9 allows a user to easily locate neck entry notch63, and the option to use either neck retaining means, in the convolutedperiphery, as might be preferred.

[0064] A comparison of the device of FIG. 9 with the prior art devicesof FIGS. 7 and 8 showed that in the equally short escape route element162 shown in FIG. 9; tension on neck portion 38 is directed in adirection that is (not parallel or directly in line with) but is atapproximately 90 degrees to slit, slot, 162, 62 of neck passage means63. Because of this direction of action, the element 62 can be arelatively narrow slot, for example less than 0.040 inches or about0.030 inches, as opposed to being a slit 162. This clearly reduces thelikelihood of the neck portion 38 escaping by sliding backwardly throughthe slit 162 or slot 62. As a result, this reduces the risk of the neckportion 38 unraveling and causing premature deflation.

[0065]FIG. 10 is an illustration of a stamped out exemplary frangiblestrip 351 of a number of the various embodiments of the closure andsealing device 50 of the present invention, whereby individual closuredevices 50 can be separated from each other by breaking the connection352 in the convoluted periphery or perimeter 53 between individualclosures. Each strip can be separated into individual devices bybreaking a connection between adjacent devices forming the strip. Shownalso is a second end notch 64 a, a side edge notch 72 in combinationwith one tab protrusion 78. The neck passage means 63 includes a slit162, and each have a first side edge 56, including neck retaining means72 in the form of a notch or half-rectangle, as well as the second sideedge 58 including neck retaining means 78, in the form of a tab orprotrusion. This gives the user a choice of wrapping patterns to suite auser's preference.

[0066]FIG. 11A illustrates a sixth embodiment of the present inventionshowing a symmetrical version of the closure and sealing device havingtwo neck-receiving apertures. The two apertures 60 and 160 are the samesize and shape, as are the lead in notches 61. This eliminates any userconfusion as to where to first insert the twisted balloon neck 34, (notshown) since both the first end 52 and the second end 54 are symmetricalrelative to the neck receiving aperture 60, and the twisted neck couldbe inserted into the aperture 60 starting with either end and haveexactly the same sealing closure result.

[0067] Thus FIG. 11B further illustrates a completed, closed, sealed andtethered toy balloon assembly 151 consisting of the inflated balloon 30,the device 50 of the present invention, and the ribbon tether 300, allbeing assembled without tying knots.

[0068]FIG. 11A also illustrates an improvement over the prior art deviceshown in FIG. 7 in at least three distinct ways. First, confusion isavoided since the user does not have to make a choice regarding whichneck passage means 63 to use to insert the twisted balloon neck (notshown) since device 50 is symmetrical. Second, less stretching of theballoon neck 34 (not shown) is required since both balloonneck-receiving apertures are symmetrically located relative to ends 52and 54 of device 50. Thirdly, the inclusion of tongue 70 (not shown)within apertures 60 and 160 keeps stretched neck portions 36, and 38 outof alignment with neck passage means 63. The last portion 38 (not shown)of the twisted balloon neck would require less stretching than thatshown in FIG. 8 and therefore be less prone to unraveling and causepremature balloon deflation.

[0069] Fourthly, wrapping the twisted balloon neck may be terminated athalf revolution intervals compared to full revolution intervals inherentfor configurations previously described in FIGS. 3B and 5 for example.Benefits result from half revolution terminations; first, balloon neckslack, especially in neck portion 38, can be accommodated by wrapping ofan additional half-revolution, to take up slack and by so doing furtherreduces the risk of premature deflation. Second, an additional180-degree turn is provided which results in additionally reducing thelikelihood of premature deflation. Third, an aesthetic benefit, is thatby ending at a half revolution, the neck rim will be concealed since itwill lie between the balloon body 32 and device 50. A fourth benefit isthat the inflated balloon 32 and assembly 50 may be removable secured toa fixed line, such as tether line 300 as shown in FIG. 6a without theneed to form the loop shown in FIG. 6b. Directing attention to FIG. 11B,sealing device 50 is placed behind fixed tether line 300, and balloonneck portion 38 is stretched in direction of arrow 202 and brought intoaperture 160 thereby slideably impinging fixed tether line 300 betweenballoon neck portions 36 and 38.

[0070] The sealed balloon assembly is easily removed from the line 300by reversing the last step, whereupon the sealed balloon may bepresented to a departing youngster for example

[0071]FIG. 12 is a perspective exploded view of sealing device 50showing an area of repulsive taste agent 55 and a preferred method ofwrapping stretched neck portions 36, 37 and 38 one revolution aroundflat member 51 passing at least twice through neck-receiving aperture 60to effectively close and seal inflated toy balloon 30.

[0072] The repulsive taste agent 55 safety coating can be applied assuggested by dashed lines in FIG. 12 or to any part of flat member 51,including the periphery or portions thereof by any suitable means suchas dobbing, printing with inks containing the repulsive taste agent 55agent, or an adhesive label treated with a repugnant taste agent.

[0073] As can be seen, there has been provided a toy balloon closure andsealing device that includes (a) a generally flat member having a firstend, a second end opposite the first end, a first side edge and a secondside edge opposite the first side edge, (b) a balloon neck receivingaperture formed through the generally flat member and between the firstend and the second end, (c) passage for inserting a balloon neck fromthe first end into the balloon neck receiving aperture, and (d) at leastone stretched neck retaining means formed on at least one of the secondend, the first side edge and the second side edge, for creating at leastone sharp bend and seal in a balloon neck being stretched from theballoon neck receiving aperture for reinsertion through one of thepassage and the balloon neck receiving aperture in the generally flatmember; thereby effectively closing and sealing the stretched balloonneck without tying and without a risk of the balloon neck unraveling andcausing premature balloon deflation.

[0074] While preferred embodiments of the invention have beenillustrated and described, and while other alterations will be apparent,it should be understood that other variations will become apparent toone skilled in the art without departing from the principals herein.Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited to the exactconfigurations illustrated in the drawings, but is intended to set forththe nature of the invention:

What is claimed is:
 1. A toy balloon closure and sealing devicecomprising: (a) a generally flat member having a first end, a second endopposite said first end, a first side edge and a second side edgeopposite said first side edge; (b) a balloon neck-receiving apertureformed through said generally flat member and between said first end andsaid second end; (c) inserting passage means for inserting a balloonneck from said first end into said balloon neck receiving aperture; and(d) at least one non-aligned stretched neck retaining means formed on atleast one of said second end, said first side edge and said second sideedge at a location that not aligned with said inserting passage, forcreating at least one angled sharp bend and seal in a balloon neck beingstretched from said balloon neck receiving aperture for reinsertionthrough said inserting passage means and through said balloon neckreceiving aperture; thereby effectively closing and sealing the balloonneck without tying and without a risk of the balloon neck unraveling andcausing premature balloon deflation.
 2. The toy balloon closure andsealing device of claim 1, wherein said generally flat member is made ofa plastic material that is colorless.
 3. The toy balloon closure andsealing device of claim 1, wherein said generally flat member has afirst flat face and a second flat face, and its use is not facedependent, thereby allowing for ease of use instructions.
 4. The toyballoon closure and sealing device of claim 1, wherein said generallyflat member has a convoluted perimeter.
 5. The toy balloon closure andsealing device of claim 1, wherein said balloon neck receiving apertureis generally rectangular.
 6. The toy balloon closure and sealing deviceof claim 1, wherein said balloon neck receiving aperture includes aninwardly projecting tongue member for urging a portion of said balloonneck within said balloon neck receiving aperture to be out of alignmentwith said inserting passage means.
 7. The toy balloon closure andsealing device of claim 1, wherein said inserting passage means includesa lead-in notch from said first end, and a slit from said lead-in notchinto said balloon neck receiving aperture.
 8. The toy balloon closureand sealing device of claim 1, including a single said at least onestretched neck retaining means formed into said second end of saidgenerally flat member and across from said inserting passage means onsaid first end.
 9. The toy balloon closure and sealing device of claim1, including a pair of said at least one stretched neck retaining meansformed one on each of said first side edge and said second side edge forcausing any escaping forces in the stretched elastic neck of the toyballoon to act in a direction approximately 90 degrees to said insertingpassage means.
 10. The toy balloon closure and sealing device of claim1, including a single said at least one stretched neck retaining meanscomprising a notch formed into said second end of said generally flatmember and across from said inserting passage means on said first end,and having a generally half-rectangular shape for flattening the elasticneck of the toy balloon so as to create said at least one sharp bend andseal therein.
 11. The toy balloon closure and sealing device of claim 1,including a pair of said at least one stretched neck retaining meanscomprising a notch formed one each into each of said first side edge andsaid second side edge, and each having a generally half-rectangularshape for flattening the elastic neck of the toy balloon so as to createsaid at least one sharp bend and seal therein.
 12. The toy balloonclosure and sealing device of claim 1, including three said at least onestretched neck retaining means formed one on each of said second end,said first side edge and said second side edge, for causing the elasticneck of a toy balloon to create said at least one sharp bend and sealtherein.
 13. The toy balloon closure and sealing device of claim 1,wherein said generally flat member is made of a biodegradable material.14. The toy balloon closure and sealing device of claim 1, wherein saidpassage means includes a lead-in notch from said first end, and a slotfrom said lead-in notch into said balloon neck receiving aperture, saidslot having a slot width less than 0.04 inches for preventing astretched balloon neck within said receiving aperture from escaping. 15.The toy balloon closure and sealing device of claim 1, including a pairof said passage means located symmetrically one at each of said firstend and said second and opposite end of said flat member.
 16. The toyballoon closure and sealing device of claim 8, wherein each of said pairof said at least one stretched neck retaining means comprises a notch.17. The toy balloon closure and sealing device of claim 9, wherein eachof said pair of said at least one stretched neck retaining meanscomprises a notch.
 18. The toy balloon closure and sealing device ofclaim 9, wherein each of said pair of said at least one stretched neckretaining means comprises a tab member.
 19. A toy balloon closure andsealing device comprising: (a) a generally flat member having a firstend, a second end opposite said first end, a first side edge and asecond side edge opposite said first side edge; (b) a balloonneck-receiving aperture formed through said generally flat member andbetween said first end and said second end; (c) inserting passage meansfor inserting a balloon neck from said first end into said balloon neckreceiving aperture; (d) at least one non-aligned stretched neckretaining means formed on at least one of said second end, said firstside edge and said second side edge at a location that not aligned withsaid inserting passage, for creating at least one angled sharp bend andseal in a balloon neck being stretched from said balloon neck receivingaperture for reinsertion through said inserting passage means andthrough said balloon neck receiving aperture; thereby effectivelyclosing and sealing the balloon neck without tying and without a risk ofthe balloon neck unraveling and causing premature balloon deflation; and(e) a safety device in the form of a tail portion connected to one ofsaid second end, said first side edge and said second side edge.
 20. Atoy balloon closure and sealing device comprising: (a) a generally flatmember having a first end, a second end opposite said first end, a firstside edge and a second side edge opposite said first side edge; (b) aballoon neck-receiving aperture formed through said generally flatmember and between said first end and said second end; (c) insertingpassage means for inserting a balloon neck from said first end into saidballoon neck receiving aperture; (d) at least one non-aligned stretchedneck retaining means formed on at least one of said second end, saidfirst side edge and said second side edge at a location that not alignedwith said inserting passage, for creating at least one angled sharp bendand seal in a balloon neck being stretched from said balloon neckreceiving aperture for reinsertion through said inserting passage meansand through said balloon neck receiving aperture; thereby effectivelyclosing and sealing the balloon neck without tying and without a risk ofthe balloon neck unraveling and causing premature balloon deflation; and(e) a safety device in the form of a repulsive taste agent applied tosaid generally flat member.
 21. A safe toy balloon closure and sealingdevice comprising: (a) a structured member having a balloon neckreceiving aperture, inserting passage means, and at least one stretchedneck retaining means formed therethrough; and (b) a safety device formedon said structured member for reducing a risk of injury from ingestionby children, thereby making the toy balloon closure and sealing devicesafe.
 22. The safe toy balloon closure and sealing device of claim 21wherein said safety device comprises a tail portion attached to one ofsaid second end, said first side edge and said second side edge.
 23. Thesafe toy balloon closure and sealing device of claim 21, wherein saidsafety device comprises a repulsive taste agent applied to saidstructured member.
 24. The safe toy balloon closure and sealing deviceof claim 22, wherein said tail portion includes at least on slot formedtherein.
 25. The safe toy balloon closure and sealing device of claim22, wherein said tail portion has a distal end and said distal endincludes a taper for enabling display of an inflated balloon assemblyusing said closure and sealing device thereof on a pegboard.
 26. Thesafe toy balloon closure and sealing device of claim 23, wherein saidrepulsive taste agent is applied directly to said structured member. 27.The safe toy balloon closure and sealing device of claim 23, whereinsaid repulsive taste agent is applied directly to an adhesive tape thatis then applied to said structured member.
 28. The safe toy balloonclosure and sealing device of claim 23, wherein said repulsive tasteagent comprises a bittering agent.
 29. The safe toy balloon closure andsealing device of claim 28, wherein said bittering agent is DenatoniumBenzoate.